Tag Archives: bluetooth mesh

OEMs and Contractors Now Have Bi-directional Wireless Control Options with Family of Bluetooth Devices and Apps for Lighting Retrofits and New Installations.

Chicago, USA — At LightFair 2018 being held this week at McCormick Place, Fulham will introduce a new line of Bluetooth mesh lighting control systems and software to provide wireless luminaire control and monitoring. Fulham, a leading supplier of lighting components and electronics for commercial and specialty applications, plans to demonstrate its new Bluetooth mesh connected LED driver, its new 0-10V to Bluetooth Bridge, and a new Bluetooth commissioning app for Apple’s iOS platform.

“The industry has been anticipating sensor-enabled standards-based, wireless lighting controls , but with Bluetooth mesh customers can get two-way lighting communications now,” said Russ Sharer, Vice President of Global Marketing for Fulham. “Bluetooth mesh provides superior lighting control – it’s a recognized standard meaning vendors can develop interoperable products, it provides for reliable operation, the technology scales appropriately for lighting systems, and all of us carry mobile phones fully capable of being commissioning devices. Rather than promise IoT in the future, Bluetooth delivers it today.”

The first in Fulham’s new family of Bluetooth mesh LED drivers is a 40W programmable constant current driver that comes with an intelligent wireless Bluetooth dongle and provides two-way wireless communications to commission, operate, monitor, and analyze LED luminaires and lighting installations. This is the first wireless LED driver to provide bidirectional communications and since it is SIG-qualified it can be used to control third-party Bluetooth sensors and switches.

The Bluetooth driver design helps minimize driver inventory while providing maximum versatility. This is a universal 0-10v driver that can be programmed for 110 to 227V input and 250-1500mA output, and the dongle is upgradeable so installers can add Bluetooth mesh support, or it can be outfitted to accommodate other wireless control protocols in the future. The wireless Bluetooth mesh driver is ideal for mid-life luminaire retrofits, allowing customers to upgrade luminaires with energy-saving LEDs today while ensuring those luminaires can accommodate Bluetooth wireless control in the future.

Bluetooth mesh networking also supports many-to-many communications for applications such as building automation and smart cities, so using Bluetooth mesh for lighting controls makes it possible to connect hundreds or thousands of luminaire sensors. Bluetooth mesh also makes it possible to consolidate luminaires and other devices into one, centrally managed infrastructure, laying the foundation building management and even outdoor systems management using IoT (Internet of Things).

“Smart lighting systems will be built on accepted open communications standards such as Bluetooth mesh, and with the introduction of our Bluetooth mesh family of drivers we are providing a new set of adaptable controls that empower our OEM and installer customers,” said Alvaro Garcia, Product Director for LED Emergency and Advanced R&D for Fulham. “These programmable drivers are Bluetooth-ready, so customers can build in wireless control from the outset to futureproof their installations, or they can add Bluetooth communications later. Delivering these mesh-enabled drivers is a major step toward enabling open lighting controls, as well as laying the foundation for IoT infrastructure management.”

Fulham also will introduce the new 0-10V to Bluetooth Bridge that can upgrade any 0-10V luminaire to support Bluetooth mesh. Simply install the Bridge and the luminaire is added to a Bluetooth mesh infrastructure to receive control commands and send data back for performance analytics.

To support the new Bluetooth mesh family of products, Fulham is offering a lighting commissioning app. Currently available for iPhones, iPads, and other iOS-compatible devices, the app can be used to issue instructions to program any Bluetooth mesh-connected luminaire. The commissioning app will be available from the Apple Store. Fulham is making the app readily available at no cost, although fees will be charged based on the number of luminaires being controlled.

Fulham’s Bluetooth mesh products will be demonstrated at LightFair 2018 in Booth 602. For more information, visit http://www.fulham.com.

About Fulham
Fulham Co., Inc. is a leading global provider of intelligent, socially-conscious sustainable commercial lighting components and electronics for use in commercial general lighting, parking structure, signage, horticultural, UV and other applications. The company develops and manufactures a variety of award-winning LED and emergency products, as well as legacy products across multiple lighting platforms. Fulham sells its lighting solutions worldwide through original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and electrical equipment distribution channels. Headquartered in Hawthorne, Calif., the company has sales and/or manufacturing facilities in the Netherlands, China, India and the UAE. For more information, visit http://www.fulham.com. @FulhamUSA and @FulhamEurope.

Fulham’s connected lighting controls shows the potential of Bluetooth mesh and Power over Ethernet for intelligent lighting commissioning and management.

FRANKFURT, Germany — At Light+Building this week, Fulham Co., Inc., a leading supplier of lighting components and electronics for commercial and specialty applications, will demonstrate new wireless lighting control technology that uses the Bluetooth mesh control stack from Silvair to provide two-way communication to smart light fixtures. Fulham also will demonstrate new Power over Ethernet (PoE) LED Linear Engine technology combining DC power and smart lighting control. The technology demonstration of lighting controls will be shown in Hall 4.0, Stand A12.

Fulham’s Light+Building Bluetooth mesh demonstration will include a Bluetooth to 0-10V LED controller and a 40W LED driver with add-on Bluetooth connectivity via a Fulham Intelligent Wireless Module. Both products will be used to control third-party sensors and wall switches, showing the promise of Bluetooth Mesh compatibility. These are some of the very first wireless LED controllers to provide two-way Bluetooth communications, enabling control commands and commissioning as well as data gathering for performance monitoring and analytics.

Bluetooth mesh can be used to enable a wireless lighting management ecosystem that can quickly pay for itself, as well as laying the foundation for centralized lighting controls as the foundation for IoT (the Internet of Things). ABI Research predicts there will be 48 billion Internet-enabled devices installed by 2021, including smart luminaires, and open standards such as Bluetooth mesh will make it possible to consolidate these devices into an IoT infrastructure. Fulham is demonstrating a prototype app that shows how sensors in luminaires can be used for additional IoT functions such as managing HVAC, alarm systems, emergency exit signs, and smart door lock controls.

Adopting Bluetooth mesh for wireless lighting controls offers a number of advantages since Bluetooth is a well-defined, open standard that promises fast, reliable performance and scalability. Mesh networking was designed for applications such as building automation, supporting many-to-many communications, and it is ideally suited for connected lighting since it can simultaneously connect sensors in hundreds to thousands of luminaires.

Fulham also will display a new PoE Linear LED Engine technology, which can be integrated into a variety of form-factors . Unlike previous generations of PoE products that can only issue commands via a 0-10v interface, the PoE LED Engine connects directly to the LED light module, providing complete two-way communication with the fixture to gather data about luminaire performance, power consumption, and operating temperature, as well as issuing commands such as on/off, diming, color tuning and timed scheduling.

Using PoE to power LED luminaires simplifies installation, since only one cable is needed for both power and controls. PoE provides the LED luminaries with a low-voltage DC power source providing up to 52W of power. This makes the luminaire more energy efficient and less costly since no conversion drivers are required.

PoE also allows makes it easier to accommodate high bandwidth sensors such as IP cameras in the same network infrastructure used to power and control lighting. With PoE, each LED luminaire has a unique IP address, making it easy to add lighting to an IoT infrastructure, including remote management over the Internet.

“We have been developing clever LED products with integrated programmability for some time. The next step toward smart lighting is to add communications to programmability, and our technology demonstrations at Light+Building will highlight some of the possibilities offered networked lighting ecosystems,” said Russ Sharer, Vice President of Global Marketing and Business Development for Fulham. “In addition to providing two-way communications for both control and data gathering, using open standards such as Bluetooth Mesh and Power over Ethernet to connect luminaires paves the way for IoT integration. LED lighting with built-in sensors creates an ideal framework for IoT infrastructure. These technologies have been requested many times by our OEMs, and we are excited to share their status.”

For more information, visit Fulham at Light+Building 2018 in Hall 4.0, Stand A12, or visit http://www.fulham.com.

#LB18
#BLEmesh4lighting
#BLEmeshecosystem

About Fulham
Fulham Co., Inc. is a leading global provider of intelligent, socially-conscious sustainable commercial lighting components and electronics for use in commercial general lighting, parking structure, signage, horticultural, UV and other applications. The company develops and manufactures a variety of award-winning LED and emergency products, as well as legacy products across multiple lighting platforms. Fulham sells its lighting solutions worldwide through original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and electrical equipment distribution channels. Headquartered in Hawthorne, Calif., the company has sales and/or manufacturing facilities in the Netherlands, China, India and the UAE. For more information, visit http://www.fulham.com. @FulhamUSA and @FulhamEurope.

FRANKFURT, Germany — At Light+Building 2018, Fulham Co., Inc., a leading supplier of lighting components and electronics for commercial and specialty applications, will demonstrate new lighting control technology using the Lighting Firmware based on the core Bluetooth mesh stack provided by Silvair, a pioneer in lighting control technology. Fulham will be showing its Bluetooth mesh lighting controllers as well as software for smart luminaires in Hall 4.0, Stand A12.

Fulham’s Light+Building 2018 technology demonstration will display products including a Bluetooth to 0-10V LED controller and a 40W LED driver with Bluetooth connectivity via a Fulham Intelligent Wireless Module. The display will include a presentation of control using third-party sensors and wall switches in a Bluetooth mesh environment.

Fulham’s demonstration incorporates Silvair’s wireless lighting control technology based on Bluetooth mesh which gives users control and data gathering capabilities. Adopting Bluetooth mesh networking technology and Silvair’s wireless lighting control solution offers numerous advantages since Bluetooth is a well-defined, open standard that provides a fast, reliable performance, unmatched scalability, high-level security and out-of-the-box interoperability. Mesh networking was designed for building automation applications since it enables many-to-many communications. It is ideally suited for connected lighting as it can simultaneously connect sensors in hundreds or thousands of luminaires. Silvair’s Lighting Firmware based on Bluetooth mesh promises to offer a wireless lighting management ecosystem that can quickly pay for itself, as well as laying the foundation for centralized lighting controls using IoT (the Internet of Things).

“OEMs have been weighing the best approach to smart lighting controls and our partnership with Silvair marks a key step in Fulham’s demonstration of a new wireless lighting control,” says Russ Sharer, Vice President of Business Development for Fulham. “Our goal is to work with OEMs to give them a choice when it comes to lighting control. With our clever lighting products, we have already added programmability to solid-state luminaires. Support for Bluetooth mesh marks the next logical step in lighting communications as the industry moves toward truly intelligent lighting.”

“It is truly wonderful that Fulham joins us as one of our partners showing Silvair’s wireless lighting control solution based on the Bluetooth mesh technology. I am excited to see the upcoming changes in the lighting industry caused by our collaboration to bring a new generation of Bluetooth mesh enabled smart lighting components to the market.” says Rafal Han, CEO and co-founder at Silvair. “We cannot wait to demonstrate these products for the first time at Light + Building 2018. Silvair’s relationship with Fulham is an important step for making an interoperable smart lighting ecosystem a reality.”

In addition to lighting controls, Bluetooth mesh networking can be used for other IoT applications, working with sensors already located in luminaires to control HVAC systems, alarm systems, fire controls, and other building controls. ABI Research predicts there will be 48 billion Internet-enabled devices installed by 2021, including smart luminaires, and open standards such as Bluetooth mesh will make it possible to consolidate these devices into a central IoT infrastructure.

For more information, visit Fulham at Light+Building 2018 in Hall 4.0, Stand A12, or visit http://www.fulham.com.

#LB18
#BLEmesh4lighting
#BLEmeshecosystem

About Fulham
Fulham Co., Inc. is a leading global provider of intelligent, socially-conscious sustainable commercial lighting components and electronics for use in commercial general lighting, parking structure, signage, horticultural, UV and other applications. The company develops and manufactures a variety of award-winning LED and emergency products, as well as legacy products across multiple lighting platforms. Fulham sells its lighting solutions worldwide through original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and electrical equipment distribution channels. Headquartered in Hawthorne, Calif., the company has sales and/or manufacturing facilities in the Netherlands, China, India and the UAE. For more information, visit http://www.fulham.com. @FulhamUSA and @FulhamEurope.

About Silvair
Silvair (http://www.silvair.com) provides complete and flexible lighting control solutions based on Bluetooth mesh networking technology. Component manufacturers can easily integrate them into a variety of products, flexibly choosing specific features in accordance with their customers’ needs. In addition, our intelligent lighting platform includes dedicated tools for commissioning and managing connected lighting systems in commercial buildings, effectively future-proofing them against increasingly stringent energy codes. Visit Silvair’s booth no. E80, hall 9.1 at Light + Building 2018 to see and learn more about the fully interoperable lighting control systems based on Bluetooth mesh networking technology.